Article support attachment



y 17, 1966 w. s; TKLTITZNER 72 ARTICLE SUPPORT ATTACHMENT Filed Aug. 24, 1964 I 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 w. in

- Inventor, PITz'ZZz'am AJiZz'tzner,

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y 7, 1966 w. s. KLITZNER 3,251,572

ARTI OLE SUPPORT ATTACHMENT Filed Aug. 24, 1964 Z Sheets-Sheet 2 Fi 6, sqk 46 0 fizz/en tor, William A.AZz'tzner,

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United States Patent O 3,251,572 ARTICLE SUPPORT ATTACHMENT William S. Klitzner, Providence, R.I., assignor to Harry Klitzner (10., Inc, Providence, R.I., a corporation of Rhode Island Filed Aug. 24, 1964. Ser. No. 391,389 4 Claims. (Cl. 248-456) The present invention relates to an article support attachment. More particularly, the present invention relates to an attachment for supporting an article for the display thereof either on a horizontal or vertical surface.

In the display of pictures, plaques and other similar articles that are ornamental in appearance, it is desirable to place the article either on a horizontal surface such as a desk or table, or in the alternative on a vertical surface such as a wall. Heretofore some supporting attachments have been utilized for supporting an article on a horizontal or vertical surface, but these prior known devices have been overly complicated in construction and therefore.

have not been found suitable for the purpose intended. The present invention includes relatively few component parts and may be adapted for use by movement of a simple attachment that is secured to the rear of the article to be displayed. The attachment embodied herein includes a support member that is mounted for slidabl'e movement in a bracket, and that has a particular construction and configuration for the location thereof in one of two positions, wherein thearticle is either mounted on a horizontal or vertical surface as required.

Accordingly it is an object of the present invention to provide an attachment for supporting an article in a display position and that includes a slidable support mem her that cooperates with the article to define either a stand therefor or that is mounted on a hook that is fixed on a wall 'or the like.

Another object of the invention is to provide a support attachment for an article wherein a bracket is secured to the rear surface of the article and a support member is slidably received in the bracket for movement to either a first position, at which the article is mounted in a generally upright position on a horizontal surface, or to a second position, at which the article is mounted on a vertical surface.

Other objects, features and advantages of the invent-ion will become apparent as the description thereof proceeds when considered in connect-ion with the accompanying illustrative drawings.

In the drawings which illustrate the best mode presently contemplated tor carrying out the present invention:

FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of a display article, the support attachment embodied herein being secured to the rear of the article and defining a stand therefor.

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the article and support attachment thereof illustrated in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a rear elevational view of the article and support attachment illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the bracket of the support attachment that is secured to the rear surface of the article to be displayed.

FIG. 5 is a rear elevational view of the article and attachment showing the position of use of the support attachment when the article .is to be mounted on a wall or the like; and

FIG. 6 is a side elevational view of the article as mounted on a wall, portions being broken away to illustrate a section taken along lines 66 in FIG. 5.

Referring now to the drawings, an article for display such as a plaque is illustrated therein and is generally indicated at 10. The plaque '10 is formed in any conventional configuration and is preferably constructed ot a 3,251,572 Patented May 17, 1966 "ice wood materialalthough other materials may be employed if it is so desired. The plaque 10 as shown has a shield type configuration that is usually employed for. awards and includes a front surface 12 that may be polished to a high finish and a rear surface 14 to which the support attachment of thepresent invention is secured, as will hereinafter be described.- Mounted on the front surface 12 of the plaque 10 is a medallion 16 and a name plate 18, each of which may have any suitable indicia or descriptive material inscribed thereon in accordance with the requirements of the award and the person to Whom the award is presented. Although the article disclosed herein is illustrated as a plaque of the award type, it is understood that the invention to be described tor mounting the plaque in a display position may be employed with other articles that will be used for display and that may be mounted either on a horizontal surface such as a desk or table or on awall or the like.

Secured to the rear surface 14 of the ornamental display plaque 10 is a support attachment generally indicated at 20. The support attachment 20 includes a bracket generally indicated at 22 and a supportmember generally indicated at 24 that is mounted for slidable movement in the bracket 22. The bracket 22 is preferably constructed of a metallic material and is formed with a central cut out portion 26 that separates the bracket into end portions 28 and 30. Interconnecting the end portions 28, 30 is a central web 32 that is reduced int-hickness with respect to the end portions to define a slot 33 when the bracket is secured to the rear surface 14 of plaque 10. Formed in the opposed end portions 28 and 30 of the bracket 22 are openings 34 and 36 respectively through which suitable screws indicated at '38 and 40 in FIG. 3 are adapted to project tor securing the bracket 22 to the rear surface 14 oi the plaque 10.

As illustrated in FIGS. 3, 5 and 6, the support member 24 includes a leg portion that is defined by diverging legs 42 and 44. Joined to the diverging legs is an intermediate portion 46 to the upper end of which a head port-ion 48 is joined. As shown more clearly in FIG. 5, the head portion 48 includes opposed cars 50 and 52 and is offset in angular relation with respect to the intermediate portion 46. As will be described, the inclined or offset formation of the head portion 48 enables the support mem-.

ber 24 to be located in the two posit-ions of use for either mounting the plaque 10 on a wall or placing it on a horizontal surface such as a table or desk.

The intermediate portion 46 of the support member 24 has a width that generally corresponds to the width of the cut-out portion 26 and the slot 33 formed by the central web 32 of the bracket 22. When the attachment 20 is secured in place on the rear surface 14 of the plaque 10, the bracket 22 overlies the support member 24, the intermediate portion 46 of the support member 24 projecting through the cut-out portion 26 and being held in place by location within the slot 33. The opposed ears 50 and 52 of the head portion 48 extend beyond the confines of the slot 33 and prevent the support member 24 .from being withdrawn from the slot 33 and the cut-out portion 26 of the bracket 22. The ears 50 and 52 thus define a limit for movement of the support member 24 to a stand position as illustrated in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, and as further seen in FIG. 5, the diverging legs 42 and 44 of the support member 24 define a limit for movement of the support member 24 in an upper direction with respect to the plaque 10. Thus when the support member 24 is moved to the position illustrated in FIG. 5, the diverging legs 42 and 44 will limit the upper movement thereof within the slot 33.

As previously described, the plaque 10 may be mounted on a vertical surface such as a wall or the like or placed a w on a horizontal surface such as a desk or table top. Assuming first that the plaque 10 will be placed on a hor1- zon'tal surface such as a desk or table top, the support member 24 of the plaque is slidably moved outwardly with respect to the bracket 22. As the ofiset head portion 48 moves to the lower limit position thereof within the slot 3-3, it moves into flush engagement with the rear surface 1 4 of the plaque. The intermediate portion 46 and legs 42, 44 are then moved to an angular position with respect to the rear surface 14, the cut-out portion 26 accommodating the intermediate portion in this position. The intermediate portion 46 and the legs 44- 'and 42 are thus located in inclined relation with respect to the vertical and cooperate with the plaque 10 to define a stand therefor. Since the legs '42 and 44 must assume the position as illustrated in FIG. 2, it is seen that the cut-out port-ion 26 is essential to enable the legs tobe moved to the stand position as shown. The ears 5% and 52 limit the movement of the support member 2-4 in the stand position and thus define a stop therefor to lock the support member 24 in the stand position.

When it is desired to mount the plaque on a vertical surface such as a wall or the like, the support member 24 is pushed upwardly with respect to the bracket 22 for location in the position as illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 6. In this position the diverging configuration of the legs 42 and 44 limit the upward movement thereof through the cut-out portion 26- and act to essentially lock the support member in place. Referring particularly to FIG. 6, it is seen that the legs 42 and '44 and a portion of the. intermediate portion 46 have a somewhat bowed configuration that tends to locate the legs of the support member in frictional engagement with the rear surface 14 of the plaque. The legs 42 and 4 4 and the bowed section of the intermediate portion 46 thus cooperate to positively locate the support member 24 in the position as illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 6.

Since the support member 24 is disposed in substantially flush relation with respect to the rear surface 14 of the plaque 16 as illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 6, the offset head portion 48 projects rearWa-rdly with respect to the surface 14 to form a hanging element. F or this purpose the head portion 48 is provide-d with an opening or hole 54 therein that is adapted to be received on a hook 56 that is conveniently fixed in a vertical surface or Wall 58.

It is seen that the support attachment 20 provides a simple yet expedient construction for employing the ornamental plaque 10 as a standing display or as a mounted display. In the assembled position of the attachment, the support member 24 is the only movable component part and is movable from the stand position as illustrated in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 to the mounting position as illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 6. Movement of the support member 24 to the stand position is easily and quickly accomplished by forcing the support member to the lowermost position thereof, wherein the head portion 48 defines a limit and lock therefor. In this limit position of the head portion 48, the inclined or offset relation thereof provides for the inclination of the legs 42 and 44 that cooperate with the plaque 10 to define a stand. The offset formation of the head portion 48 further defines the means for engaging the hook 56 when the support member is moved to the mounting position thereof as illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 6. Movement of the support member 24 from the stand position to the mounting position is accomplished by slidably translating the support member within the slot 33 of the bracket 22, the upper limit of movement being defined by the diverging portion of the legs 42 and 4 4. the bowed construction of the intermediate portion 46 and the legs 42 and 44 of the support member 24 further cooperate to retain the support member in the mounting position thereof shown in FIGS. 5 and 6.

While there is shown and described herein certain specific structure embodying the invention, it will be manifest to those skilled in the art that various modifications and rearrangements of the parts may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the underlying inventive concept, and that the same is not limited to the particular forms herein shown and described, except, insofar as indicated by the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In an attachment for supporting an article for display, wherein said article includes a front ornamental surface and a rear surface, a bracket secured to said rear surface and having a slot formed therein, a support member being received in said slot for sliding movement with respect to said bracket and for movement therein to an upper limit position and to a lower limit position, said support member including a head portion that is enlarged and that extends beyond the confines of the slot and prevents withdrawal of said support member therethrough in one direction when said support member is located in the lower limit position, and a leg portion interconnected to said head portion and limiting withdrawal of said support memberthrough the slot when said support is located in the upper limit position in said bracket, said head portion being offset with respect to the remainder of the support member and being movable into flush engagement with said rear surface when the support member is moved downwardly with respect to said bracket to the lower limit position and thereby defining a stand for said article, the remainder of the support member including said leg portion being located in inclined relation to said rear surface when said head portion is flush with said surface and cooperating with said head portion to define the stand for said article, said offset head portion further having an opening formed therein, wherein when said support member is located in the upper limit position in said bracket, said opening is offset with respect to a vertical surface on which the article is to be mounted, thereby providing for easy insertion of a mounting element located on said vertical surface in said opening.

2. In an attachment :as set forth in claim 1, said offset head portion including opposed ears that cooperate with the adjacent portions of said head portion to define a T configuration.

3. In an attachment as set forth in claim 1, said bracket further having a cutout portion formed therein that communicates with said slot, said cut-out portion receiving said support member therein and providing for the movement of the leg portion thereof to the inclined position when said offset head portion moves into flush engagement with said rear surface.

4. In an attachment as set forth in claim 3, said leg portion having a slightly bowed configuration with respect to said rear surface, wherein said leg portion is located in frictional engagement with said rear surface when said support member is disposed at the upper limit position thereof.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 326,387 8/1885 Blaesius 248455 380,671 4/1888 Servus 248455 482,978 9/1892 Hunter 248-455 FOREIGN PATENTS 781,082 1/1934 France. 236,732 7/ 1945 Switzerland.

CLAUDE A. LE ROY, Primary Examiner.

J. F. FOSS, Assistant Examiner. 

1. IN AN ATTACHMENT FOR SUPPORTING AN ARTICLE FOR DISPLAY, WHEREIN SAID ARTICLE INCLUDES A FRONT ORNAMENTAL SURFACE AND A REAR SURFACE, A BRACKET SECURED TO SAID REAR SURFACE AND HAVING A SLOT FORMED THEREIN, A SUPPORT MEMBER BEING RECEIVED IN SAID SLOT FOR SLIDING MOVEMENT WITH RESPECT TO SAID BRACKET AND FOR MOVEMENT THEREIN TO AN UPPER LIMIT POSITION AND TO A LOWER LIMIT POSITION, SAID SUPPORT MEMBER INCLUDING A HEAD PORTION THAT IS ENLARGED AND THAT EXTENDS BEYOND THE CONFINES OF THE SLOT AND PREVENTS WITHDRAWAL OF SAID SUPPORT MEMBER THERETHROUGH IN ONE DIRECTION WHEN SAID SUPPORT MEMBER IS LOCATED IN THE LOWER LIMIT POSITTION, AND A LEG PORTION INTERCONNECTED TO SAID HEAD PORTION AND LIMITING WITHDRAWAL OF SAID SUPPORT MEMBER THROUGH THE SLOT WHEN SAID BRACKET, SAID HEAD PORTION BEING OFFSET WITH RESPECT TO THE SUPPORT IS LOCATED IN THE UPPER LIMIT POSITION IN SAID REMAINDER OF THE SUPPORT MEMBER AND BEING MOVABLE INTO FLUSH ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID REAR SURFACE WHEN THE SUPPORT MEMBER IS MOVED DOWNWARDLY WITH RESPECT TO SAID BRACKET TO THE LOWER LIMIT POSITION AND THEREBY DEFINING A STAND FOR SAID ARTICLE, THE REMAINDER OF THE SUPPORT MEMBER INCLUDING SAID LEG PORTION BEING LOCATED IN INCLINED RELATION TO SAID REAR SURFACE WHEN SAID HEAD PORTION IS FLUSH WITH SAID SURFACE AND COOPERATING WITH SAID HEAD PORTION TO DEFINE THE STAND FOR SAID ARTICLE, SAID OFFSET HEAD PORTION FURTHER HAVING AN OPENING FORMED THEREIN, WHEREIN WHEN SAID SUPPORT MEMBER IS LOCATED IN THE UPPER LIMIT POSITION IN SAID BRACKET, SAID OPENING IS OFFSET WITH RESPECT TO A VERTICAL SURFACE ON WHICH THE ARTICLE IS TO BE MOUNTED, THEREBY PROVIDING FOR EASY INSERTION OF A MOUNTING ELEMENT LOCATED ON SAID VERTICAL SURFACE IN SAID OPENING. 